Just as the last posters advertising Outfoxed-a filmed examination of media bias at Fox News that has traveled in a wave of small screenings and house parties-came down, flyers began appearing around the Seacoast for Christine Rose's feature-length documentary, Liberty Bound.

On a zigzag tour across the nation, tightly scheduled to cover as much territory as possible before the election, Rose's documentary raises questions that should be on every voter's mind. In particular it probes the meaning and identifying traits of fascism and questions the lawfulness of the Patriot Act. Boldly examining the validity of what many would consider radical, if not downright absurd, comparisons between George W. Bush's administration and Adolf Hitler's regime, Rose calls on respected thinkers-including historian Howard Zinn-to lend their perspective and insight. Their statements are presented alongside interviews with those who've experienced the invasive power of the Patriot Act firsthand.

I asked Rose in an e-mail interview what inspired her to make the film. Her response seemed representative of many current grassroots movements and projects: she perceived a gap in mainstream media news coverage and sought to fill it. "Objectivity," she admitted, "is an impossible ideal whenever editing is present. I didn't pursue objectivity, but rather pursued information one didn't hear ... information the American public had a right to know." The content, she said, in the long run speaks for itself.

As an independent filmmaker, Rose worked without the benefit of a budget, using public domain footage, the work of other activists and Internet research to build her film and, metaphorically, her case. Not that she expects Liberty Bound to persuade; her goal is less ambitious and far more admirable-she hopes it will make people think. Without the funds for promotion, she's relying on word of mouth, activist organizations like Seacoast Peace Response, responsible for hosting Liberty Bound at the South Church in Portsmouth, and venues such as high schools, public libraries and at least one pub.

Watching the film, I was struck most by the willingness of her interviewees, those who'd been interrogated under the auspices of the Patriot Act for such innocuous behavior as referencing the Sept. 11 catastrophe in private conversation and sending an e-mail that contained a political opinion, to tell their stories without the protection of anonymity. Only one of her subjects asked to speak under a pseudonym. I mentioned to Rose that that seemed courageous to me. "People are brave," she said, "and they stand up to injustices. I admire them, because the United States can be a pretty scary place to live if you have a dissenting opinion these days."

As for comparisons to Michael Moore-with whose work hers shares certain characteristics, including a fondness for referencing her hometowns (she has two-one in Ohio and one in Texas) and a tone of cheery sarcasm-she is more than comfortable with them. "I'm honored to be compared to Michael Moore. He is my inspiration for becoming a filmmaker."